Chris tasted it and made a wry face.
"Lord! That's a strong dose," he said. He added more soda to it, but Feathers drained his at a gulp.
"Well, how goes it?" he asked. He sat down on the other side of the table, so that his face was out of the light. The room to him seemed filled with Marie's presence. It was so real that he wondered Chris did not guess she had been here.
Chris stood up, his shoulders against the mantelshelf.
His handsome eyes met his friend's with haggard pain.
"I've got something to tell you," he said. "I'm telling you because you've always been—been my best friend."
There was a little silence, then:
"Yes," said Feathers hoarsely. Chris told his story abruptly.
"Mrs. Heriot went to our place two days ago. You know Miss Webber 267 and I were golfing with them the day before."
"Yes."